Folding cot and stretcher



F. W. PFEIFER.

FOLDING COT AND STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13. we.

1, 3 50, 5 1 6 Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

. he I 5% k fi h 3% w MP PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. PFIEIFER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FOLDING COT AND STRETCI-IER.

Application filed September 13, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK \V. PFEIFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Cots and Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cots, and particularly to folding cots.

One object of the present invention is to provide a cot which may be easily and quickly folded into a small and compact condition so as to occupy the smallest amount of space and which is especially adapted for military and camp uses.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved device of this character wherein the cot is readily capable of being converted into a stretcher for use in emergencies.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved device of this character wherein the canvas bottom of the cot is held so that it may be readily removed for repairs or substitution, and which will easily fold when the cot is telescoped or collapsed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cot made in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan of one end portion of the cot.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of one end portion of the cot showing the supporting legs in the position assumed when the cot is used as a stretcher.

Fig. 4: is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 1- 1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig.2.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 represents a pair of parallel tubular side rail sections each of which is formed with a longitudinal slot 11 in the upper side thereof, the inner wall of each slot having a recess or notch 12 adjacent the head end thereof. Telescoped into each of the sections 10 is a slightly smaller tubular section 13, said section having a longitudinal slot 1% in the upper side thereof which Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920. Serial No. 253,944.

registers with the slot of the appropriate section 10 into which it is telescoped. In the lower side of each of the sections 10 there is formed a longitudinal slot 15 through which pro ects a stud bolt 16 carried by the lower side of the section 13, winged nuts 17 being engaged on said bolts to hold the telescoping sections in different adjusted positions.

A canvas bottom 18 has its longer marginal edges formed with the tubular pockets 19 which are disposed longitudinally in the sections 10 and 13, the body of the bottom leading thence through the slots thereof. Disposed longitudinally within each of the pockets is a rod 20, said rod being formed of two sections hinged together at 21, for a purpose which will presently appear. One end of the rod is formed with an upturned portion 22, which is provided with a head 23 and arranged for engagement in one of the before-mentioned notches 12, being drawn into the same by tension on the bed bottom. Carried by the inner face of the outer end of each of the rail sections is a lug 24:, and pivotally mounted on each lug is a leg member 25. The legs at each end of the cot are crossed and pivotally connected, as shown at 26. Pivotally mounted adjacent each of the lugs 24: is a sectional adjustable brace 27 the other end of which is pivotally connected to a leg member 25. Loosely pivoted to the inner portion of the outer end of each of the rail sections is a longitudinally slotted brace link section 28, said sections being connected by the bolts 29, and held against slipping with respect to each other by the corrugations 30 on the abutting faces thereof.

From the foregoing description, and from the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that the legs of the cot are capable of swinging movement on their pivots into the posi tion shown in Fig. 3, the braces 27 being extended to permit such movement. The cot is thus converted into a stretcher which can be placed on the ground, floor, or bed, as the circumstances warrant, the outer ends of the legs being adapted to serve as handles by which the stretcher is carried.

In normal extended condition the up turned ends of the rods 20 are disposed in the notches 12, whereby the fabric bottom covers the braces and legs at the adjacent end of the cot. hen the cot is to be packed, the sections 13 are slipped into the sections 10 until the joints 21 appear at the outer ends of the sections 13. The rods are then folded over onto the telescoped sections, together with the folded fabric bottom, which is carried by the rods. The upturned ends of the rods are only removed from the notches 12 when the entire fabric bottom is removed for repairs or replacement, and this can easily be accomplished by forcibly Withdrawing said ends out the extremities of the slots 11possibly spreading the end of the side rail 10 a little to permit such withdrawal.

There is thus provided a novel and efficient device which is-readily and conveniently convertible from a cot to a stretcher,

as the occasion requires. Furthermore, the device 1s readily capable of being placed in a small and compact condition for packing or transportation.

Attention is particularly called to the legs which are adapted to support the device as a cot, and to serve as handles when the device is used as a stretcher.

Vhat is claimed is:

In a structure of the class described, the

combination with side rails each made up of outer and inner tubular telescopic sections having alined slots in their upper sides and the outer section having a longitudinal slot in its lower side, a stud bolt projecting from the inner section through the last-named slot and receiving a nut forholding the sections relatively adjusted, and folding legs for supporting said rails and braces for holding them separated when so supported; of a flexible bottom connecting said rails and passing downward through their upper slots, its edges having longitudinal tubular pockets, in each pocket a rod made in sections, a hinge connecting the sections end to end at a point to be exposed when said tubular sections are telescoped together whereby one rod section and the bottom thereon can be folded over onto the other section, and connections between the remote end of the other rod section and the larger tubular section. V

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature, in the presence of'two witnesses. FREDERICK \V. PFEIFER.

lVitnesses CHARLES A. Horwoon, CLAYTON MoGLARE'N. 

